 |
DC
METRO REAL ESTATE
Serving
the Real Estate needs of the communities of
Manassas, Bristow, Haymarket, Warrenton, Gainesville
and Culpeper in Northern Virginia
|
|
Dave
Scardina
Broker
/ Owner
|
|
703-829-SOLD
866-909-0900
|
|
|
|
|
Manassas Real Estate News / Help for Buyers and SellersGuidelines for Buying Manassas
Let’s say everything is a GO! You have found the perfect Manassas home. You know you can afford it and it is actually priced below what you expected to pay. What a bargain! Yes there are bargains to be found in Manassas. At this point it is fine to put in an offer on the property but only with a well-planned contingency. Of course, it the home is going to be financed, the lender will want a Home Inspection before agreeing to lend money on the property. However, you need to protect yourself by making an offer SUBJECT TO a clean bill of health from the Home Inspector of your choice. This kind of a contingency gives you an out if the inspector finds a problem with the roof, or foundation or other structural problem that was not apparent to the seller or to your agent. This does not mean you will not buy the house but you will have a good reason to renegotiate the price with the seller.
Manassas. How Much Should You Offer?
Comparable sales figures is a good guide for homeowners who are pricing their Manassas and a good guide for prospective buyers. Make sure you compare homes that are similar to the one your are considering...the same neighborhood, the same size, the same condition. Also, make sure you compare sales within the past six months.
Ask your REALTOR for a comparison of the list price and sales price of comparable Manassas sales. This information may give you a trend and a guideline for your offer. For example, maybe homes in the area have consistently listed for more than they actually sold for. If that is the case, find out what percentage of reduction occurred. Use this information as a basis for your offer.
Before You Buy Your Manassas Home
Whether you are a first time buyer or someone who is moving up to a more expensive home it’s a good idea to start by cleaning up your credit report. Let’s say you apply for a loan to purchase an Manassas condo, town home, single-family home or any type of Manassas. The lender will check out your monthly income and outgo to determine if you can afford to repay the loan. Therefore, it is to your advantage to pay off as many high-interest consumer loans as possible. If you are planning on buying a car, a boat or other major purchase, put it off until after you have bought your selected Manassas real estate. Lenders look for certain patterns they consider red flags. These are: late payments, overextension, liens, garnishments and, of course, bankruptcy. Remember, debts reduce the amount of cash you can spend on the Manassas you want to buy, so clear the decks as much as possible before applying for a loan
Buying a Manassas Fixer-Upper
Some Manassas investors concentrate on buying fixer-uppers, making repairs and upgrades then selling for a profit. Going with a Manassas fixer-upper can also be a smart way for those who are handy to buy a home in a neighborhood that they might otherwise be unaffordable. Fixer-uppers are a wonderful opportunity for those who simply love to create their space to their own specifications but for whatever reason do not want to start with a vacant lot.
Best to know the extent of the job and whether or not you are up to it before you buy. Some Manassas fixer-uppers simply need cosmetic work such as paint, wallpaper, carpeting and maybe kitchen appliances are fairly easy to estimate the costs for fixing. Manassas homes that need minor structural repairs such as roofing are also fairly easy to cost estimate.
Taking Title to Your Manassas
There are so many details to consider when purchasing your Manassas and mounds of legal paperwork to read that sometimes it seems overwhelming. Some important decision can be made ahead of time so you know what is in your best interests when the time comes. For example, right at the end when the paperwork is being signed you may be asked how you want to take title. This is an important decision that should not be rushed but often is. Knowing some of the common forms of Manassas ownership ahead of time is one way to protect yourself.
A single Manassas buyer will usually want to take title in his/her name alone. Husbands and wives usually own property through a form of joint ownership such as joint tenancy. Unrelated individuals can take title in a limited partnership arrangement.
Manassas DEPRECIATION
Depreciation is the loss of value of a building or an asset due to wear, tear, and aging. Depreciation cannot be applied to your personal residence unless you use your Manassas in some way for business. If you do depreciate a part of your home, let's say a home office, there are tax consequences you must consider when you sell your home.
|
|
|
